Tuesday’s severe weather leaves four dead in Madison County

MADISON COUNTY – As another bout of severe storms bellowed across central New York Tuesday evening, more than 70,000 upstate NYSEG customers were left in the dark, while a number of homes and buildings collapsed under the stress of mother nature’s fury.

As a result, four people – all from central Madison County where the storm had the most damaging impact – were left dead in the wake of wind gusts that flirted with 70 mph readings according to NOAA's data.

According to Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley, four homes in the Town of Smithfield – approximately 35 miles northwest from Norwich – were razed shortly after 7 p.m.

"A storm came through here and ripped a couple houses totally apart," Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley said in an informal press briefing that was held at the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department just before before midnight, Tuesday. "We believe we've accounted for all the people in all the houses.”